Vietnam's fruit, vegetable exports near 7 billion USD target

Processing pineapple for exports at the Dong Giao Foodstuff Export Joint Stock Company in the northern province of Ninh Binh. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam is currently well-positioned to accelerate its export growth. A recent boost came from the signing of two key protocols between the MARD and the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). These agreements outline plant quarantine and food safety requirements for the shipments of frozen durians and fresh coconuts from Vietnam to China, with the export of the two products expected to boom when tapping into the vast Chinese market.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of VINA T&T Import Export Service Trading Co. Ltd, said the company has already been exporting fresh coconuts to markets like the US and Japan. The fruit approved to enter the Chinese market opens up major opportunities for VINA T&T to further increase its revenue.

In addition to coconuts, Vietnam’s bananas and mangoes are also capturing a large share of the Chinese market. According to the GACC's data, in the first half of 2024, Vietnam became the largest banana supplier to China, exporting nearly 420,000 tonnes, an annual rise of 18.5% and representing almost half of China's total banana imports. The former is also the latter’s top mango exporter, accounting for more than 50% of its mango imports.

Beyond China, Vietnamese fruits and vegetables are making significant inroads into key markets like the US, the Republic of Korea (RoK), and ASEAN countries. Over the past eight months, its export turnover to most major markets has shown promising growth. Notably, since early August, Vietnamese fresh pomelos have been granted export approval to the RoK.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Agency of Foreign Trade noted that the sector has practical opportunities for export growth in the remaining months of the year. Vietnam enjoys a year-round supply of durians, while Thailand and Malaysia are nearing the end of their durian seasons. However, alongside these favourable conditions, the sector must focus on improving product quality, particularly in addressing pesticide residues and heavy metal contamination.

The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association forecast that revenue from overseas shipments of processed fruits and vegetables could reach 1.4 billion USD this year, the highest ever. This not only contributes significantly to the sector’s overall export value but also eases pressure on fresh produce sales during peak harvest seasons./.